Former Aston Villa star Stan Collymore has given his view on the club’s approach to the January transfer window.
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Aston Villa should turn their attention to signing a central midfielder this January after missing out on top target Conor Gallagher, former player Stan Collymore believes.
The Villans were in the race to sign Gallagher as they progressed in talks over the weekend to bring the former Chelsea man to B6, however Premier League rivals Spurs hijacked the deal at the last moment. According to widespread and reputable reports, Gallagher was convinced to head to north London by Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.
It’s Gallagher’s loss rather than Villa’s, really, but the 22nd-time England international’s choice to join Spurs instead is still a dent in Unai Emery’s aspirations this month. Gallagher has been a target not only this winter but in several other previous transfer windows, very much on Emery’s radar. Perhaps it's just not meant to be.
After missing out on Gallagher, Emery’s desire is still to add more quality in the centre of the park – if the right deal can be achieved. This is despite already having so many strong options, including Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, Amadou Onana, Emiliano Buendia, Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde.
Collymore: Villa should sign ‘top’ midfielder
Villa have already sealed the signings of promising Brazilian winger Alysson from Gremio and 17-year-old wonderkid striker Brian Madjo from FC Metz for a combined £20 million, but where could they turn next in the transfer market? Should it be in midfield, or elsewhere?
That’s the question we posed to Collymore, who remains highly engaged in Villa’s movements. The 54-year-old former centre-forward, who scored 13 goals in 60 appearances for the Villans between 1997 and 2000, has taken the club’s PSR situation into account but still reckons some handy business is possible, albeit tricky.
“The financial situation at Villa makes a big money deal difficult, it would have to be a loan,” Collymore exclusively admitted to Birmingham World , when asked who exactly Villa should target this month.
“I don’t have a particular name off the top of my head because Conor Gallagher was virtually done and dusted and that’s the type of the deal that would’ve suited the club. They would’ve been able to try him before buying him and maybe bringing him in at the end of the season.
“I think the club should be looking at midfielders from one of the top European leagues who may be out of favour with their current club, who can come in and do a job until the end of the season with an option to buy.
“There’s no names beyond Gallagher, I thought that was a done deal, he’d have been a good signing as he’d have brought legs to the midfield and has a point to prove to get into the England squad for the World Cup – but that’s the type of player they should be looking at to help John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara,” Collymore concluded.